Chapter 6
Conclusions, suggestions, and plans for the future
Summing up the takeaways from the video analyses and the commentary by Dr Paul Hart, Gøran Forsgren, senior adviser at the Nordic Welfare Centre, said Olle almost became a new individual when all his competencies and potential were brought to light.
Gøran Forsgren underscored the need to apply this wisdom in each and every encounter we have when meeting people with deafblindness, their relatives, and society at large.
– This is the first time I have seen so many levels of interpretation and so much potential regarding one person being shown. If we can use this technique and show the parents of people with deafblindness and show society that those we work with actually do have this potential and these competencies, then we would have a win-win situation for everybody.
By combining medical, psychological and social perspectives, the networks have shown that individuals with deafblindness can develop advanced narrative abilities, categorisation skills and a strong understanding of others when given the right support.
Gøran Forsgren underscored the need to apply this wisdom in each and every encounter we have when meeting people with deafblindness, their relatives, and society at large.
– This is the first time I have seen so many levels of interpretation and so much potential regarding one person being shown. If we can use this technique and show the parents of people with deafblindness and show society that those we work with actually do have this potential and these competencies, then we would have a win-win situation for everybody.
By combining medical, psychological and social perspectives, the networks have shown that individuals with deafblindness can develop advanced narrative abilities, categorisation skills and a strong understanding of others when given the right support.
This paradigm shifts from a deficit-focused to a strengths-based approach marks a revolution in the field, which will influence the future of support services.
Gøran Forsgren also appreciated Paul Hart’s approach of looking at the person from the perspective of what we can admire about them.
– By asking what we can admire about a person, we can help ourselves see that person’s potential.
Gøran Forsgren also appreciated Paul Hart’s approach of looking at the person from the perspective of what we can admire about them.
– By asking what we can admire about a person, we can help ourselves see that person’s potential.
6.2 Comments and suggestions from DBNSK
Jackie Lehmann Hansen is chairperson of the Danish Deafblind Association and the DBNSK (Deafblind Nordic Committee on Collaboration). The DBNSK addresses issues related to people with deafblindness in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. DBNSK is a network for the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of deafblind associations in the Nordic countries.
Grounded in the principle of the equal worth of all individuals, DBNSK advocates for the rights of people with deafblindness to fully participate, enjoy equality, exercise autonomy, and achieve self-determination in all aspects of life across the Nordic countries.
During the network seminar’s final session, Jackie Lehmann Hansen advocated for closer collaboration between the Nordic networks and the DBNSK. He said the Nordic countries are considered leading in the deafblind field worldwide, but at the same time, some of the rights of deafblind people within the Nordic countries are threatened.
– We realise that the Nordic countries are considered role models, so it is very important for us to strengthen our work in this area. At the same time, we, the people living with deafblindness, are seeing our rights being decreased at the moment, and we would like to do something about that.
Lehmann Hansen noted that the Nordic networks on deafblindness within the Nordic Welfare Centre work very well. Regrettably, the DBNSK has observed that it does not function as effectively due to resource constraints, both financial and human resources. Lehmann Hansen asked the representatives of the Nordic networks at the conference if they would be interested in a deeper collaboration with the DNBSK.
The question was met with an overwhelming ‘yes’. Several network representatives took the opportunity to emphasise how a deeper collaboration could benefit both DBNSK and the Nordic networks on deafblindness.
– Your answer makes me very happy. We are the ones who live with deafblindness. We want to be involved in professional seminars, and we want to and can contribute, Lehmann Hansen said.
Among the suggestions for further collaboration between the DBNSK and the Nordic Networks was to conduct a video analysis in the same way as at the network seminar, where a person living with functioning deafblindness could add another perspective to the analysis. Another concrete proposal was to start sharing meeting notes, reports and decisions with each other.
Jackie Lehmann Hansen praised the good work being done by the Nordic networks.
– Your work makes a significant difference for us. And you do it for us. At the same time, I would like to reiterate our motto: nothing about us without us.
During the network seminar’s final session, Jackie Lehmann Hansen advocated for closer collaboration between the Nordic networks and the DBNSK. He said the Nordic countries are considered leading in the deafblind field worldwide, but at the same time, some of the rights of deafblind people within the Nordic countries are threatened.
– We realise that the Nordic countries are considered role models, so it is very important for us to strengthen our work in this area. At the same time, we, the people living with deafblindness, are seeing our rights being decreased at the moment, and we would like to do something about that.
Lehmann Hansen noted that the Nordic networks on deafblindness within the Nordic Welfare Centre work very well. Regrettably, the DBNSK has observed that it does not function as effectively due to resource constraints, both financial and human resources. Lehmann Hansen asked the representatives of the Nordic networks at the conference if they would be interested in a deeper collaboration with the DNBSK.
The question was met with an overwhelming ‘yes’. Several network representatives took the opportunity to emphasise how a deeper collaboration could benefit both DBNSK and the Nordic networks on deafblindness.
– Your answer makes me very happy. We are the ones who live with deafblindness. We want to be involved in professional seminars, and we want to and can contribute, Lehmann Hansen said.
Among the suggestions for further collaboration between the DBNSK and the Nordic Networks was to conduct a video analysis in the same way as at the network seminar, where a person living with functioning deafblindness could add another perspective to the analysis. Another concrete proposal was to start sharing meeting notes, reports and decisions with each other.
Jackie Lehmann Hansen praised the good work being done by the Nordic networks.
– Your work makes a significant difference for us. And you do it for us. At the same time, I would like to reiterate our motto: nothing about us without us.
6.2 Towards the future: Plans, comments and suggestions
The conference concluded with a forward-looking perspective. Gøran Forsgren, the event organiser and senior adviser at the Nordic Welfare Center, shared his vision for network collaboration in the coming years.
Nordic conferences are to be held every four years, with the next scheduled for September 2026 in Denmark.
– One of the themes at the conference will be called “New Nordic Voices”, which reflects the new knowledge that gets developed through collaboration within the networks. This represents new researchers in the field as well, Gøran Forsgren explained.
In the interim, network seminars, courses, and publications of new material by the networks will take place.
– One of the themes at the conference will be called “New Nordic Voices”, which reflects the new knowledge that gets developed through collaboration within the networks. This represents new researchers in the field as well, Gøran Forsgren explained.
In the interim, network seminars, courses, and publications of new material by the networks will take place.
New ideas for future research
A significant portion of the concluding session of the network seminar in Malmö comprised an open discussion, during which all participants could express their vision for the network's future and discuss how to develop the knowledge gathered at this particular network seminar.
Many network representatives expressed a desire for increased collaboration across networks. The suggestion of conducting more cross-network video analyses similar to the one at this network seminar was put forward.
Numerous attendees highlighted the benefits of performing video analysis collaboratively with other networks. The need for creating a practical guide for video analysis from a cross-network perspective was also raised.
Another practical method for networks to collaborate put forward during the final discussion is as consultants on specific cases involving deafblind individuals. One network’s perspective could illuminate aspects that might otherwise remain unnoticed. During the discussion, several instances were identified where one network could function as a consultant for another network or for practitioners working directly with deafblind people.
The need to bring the networks’ work closer to practitioners and individuals living with deafblindness was recognised. Many networks also emphasised the need for collaboration with the DBNSK, as suggested by Jackie Lehman Hansen, and for building stronger connections between the networks to produce new research material, webinars, courses, and guides.
One proposal for collaboration with the DBNSK at the next network seminar was that representatives from different countries within the DBNSK should prepare questions to be discussed with each of the networks. This would allow the DBNSK to gain the networks’ perspective on their work, and the networks themselves could analyse the questions to gather new knowledge.
The networks were also requested to identify common themes for collaboration at the next conference or network seminar.
Two themes were suggested: ageing and accessibility. These themes were seen as suitable since they are relevant to the perspectives and expertise of all the networks within the deafblind field. Each network could contribute input to generate new knowledge regarding ageing and accessibility and how they uniquely affect deafblind people.
The importance of demystifying the networks’ work was also mentioned, as well as the general need to provide better guidance on how to read and interpret scientific reports and literature.
Photo: Sigve Nedredal
Collaboration and generosity
– The possibilities of future collaborations and the networks getting together to share ideas were the real power of collaboration within research, Paul Hart summed up his main takeaway from the network seminar.
Gøran Forsgren underscored the generosity within the field and the willingness to look at the potential of the individual being the focus of video analysis, as clearly reflected in Paul Hart’s approach to summing up the different network analyses (see Chapter 5), as one main takeaway from the meeting.
– The asset-based approach really did come through. We did not look at the individual in terms of what he could not and did not do, but rather what he can do. This is the type of generosity we have in the field, all of us who are working with deafblind people, both those with congenital and acquired deafblindness. We try to see the best: what are your competencies and assets, and how can you contribute?
– The asset-based approach really did come through. We did not look at the individual in terms of what he could not and did not do, but rather what he can do. This is the type of generosity we have in the field, all of us who are working with deafblind people, both those with congenital and acquired deafblindness. We try to see the best: what are your competencies and assets, and how can you contribute?
In his closing statement, Gøran Forsgren underscored the need for more collaboration, as new knowledge is generated when people with different perspectives work together. At the same time, he identified the need for Nordic experts within the deafblind field to strengthen their standing as experts in society, as the general trend is one of diminishing resources.
– We need to solidify our position in society by becoming a beacon of knowledge. Our knowledge can help not only those living with deafblindness but also those in the bordering areas who are not diagnosed but might still have a combined vision and hearing loss or deafblindness, such as individuals with cerebral palsy, stroke survivors, or older people in general.
– We need to solidify our position in society by becoming a beacon of knowledge. Our knowledge can help not only those living with deafblindness but also those in the bordering areas who are not diagnosed but might still have a combined vision and hearing loss or deafblindness, such as individuals with cerebral palsy, stroke survivors, or older people in general.